Non-league Lincoln take on the mighty Arsenal, but what other moments have seen sides with such a gap

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Arsenal faces Lincoln City on Saturday in FA Cup quarterfinals in what could be a major upset should the non-league side reach the next round at Wembley. The Gunners have struggled recently with five defeats in seven matches and despite the massive gap between themselves and the Imps in the football pyramid, it would not be too surprising should their poor form continue.

Lincoln have already knocked Premier League side Burnley and two Championship teams in Ipswich Town and Brighton Hove and Albion, so will go into the match at the Emirates Stadium full of confidence ahead of their monumental task, but they are not the first team to face a far greater opposition.

Here are the top five David vs Goliath sporting moments.

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Germany vs Gibraltar – 14th November 2014

Gibraltar was only been accepted as a member of UEFA in May 2013 and they were drawn in a difficult group for their first European Championship qualifying stage. One of those teams was Germany and when the two faced, they had only been World Champions for four months. Despite predictions and expectancy of a double-figure victory for Die Mannschaft, Gibraltar left Nurnberg with just a 4-0 defeat.

David Haye vs Nikolai Valuev – 7th November 2009

This one was billed as a ‘David vs Goliath’ contest as Britain’s world cruiserweight champion David Haye stepped up a weight to challenge 7ft 2in Russian Giant Nikolai Valuev for his WBA title. Despite his size and power, Valuev was beaten on points by two out of the three judges in what is still Haye’s best win of his career.

Lincoln City beat Burnley to set up a 'David vs Goliath' tie against Arsenal - mirror.co.uk

Zaire vs Brazil – 22nd June 1974

Brazil, the reigning World Cup holders played against Zaire who faced not being allowed back into their country by their president if they lost 4-0. While the Brazilians no longer had Pele and injury kept captain Carlos Alberto out of the tournament, they still had the influential forward Jairzinho and midfield maestro Rivellino. Luckily for the Zaire players, now known as DR Congo, they escaped with only a 3-0 defeat and were allowed to return home.

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George Bastl vs Pete Sampras – 26th June 2002

Switzerland’s George Bastl, ranked 145 in the world, was only in the Wimbledon main draw as a lucky loser from the qualifying rounds but defeated seven-time winner at the All-England Club, Pete Sampras in five sets. It was not the sending-off the American would have liked at SW19, retiring later that year after winning the US Open.

South Africa vs Japan – 19th September 2015

Japan were minnows on the rugby union circuit and had only ever won one World Cup match 24 years earlier.

I am a Sports Journalist, with knowledge on a wide range of sports, including football, rugby, cricket, tennis, athletics and many more. I am a former Southampton Solent University student in Sports Journalism, with previous experience at GiveMeSport, Sportsbeat, Southern Daily Echo, Essex County Cricket Club and the Breeze.

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